Photos photos!

Hey y'all!
I hope you are all having a beautiful Monday, because we sure are! We went to Elche today to see my teacher from the CCM so writing time is short. But. Here are some pictures and some quick little thoughts.
Our sweet investigator Janet gave us pedicures last week for pday... She is moving to Cadiz this week and we are super sad about that. BUT. I feel so grateful to have been a part of her journey into the church and I know she will continue to progress and I love her a million.

Intercambios with Hermanas from Albacete! I thought a lot about how important it is to love everyone even when we are different. We need to respect our leaders and our companions and the people we work with and it really all comes down to trusting in God and relying on the fact that He knows what He is doing and we just go with it and try to learn and progress.

I learned how to make arepas from Venezuela this week! With these guys we are really working on helping them red and pray sincerely to know the truth. They are awesome.

Today we went to Elche - famous for its palm trees - and I visited my sweet CCM teacher! I feel so incredibly blessed to be here. The friends you make on a mission are so special and I'm so grateful for her! Especially now that we can actually communicate in Spanish. 😜

We saw miracles this week as we worked hard to reach our goals and we also experienced how much Satan tries to get in the way and that's just obnoxious. But the work goes forward and nothing stops the work of the Lord. I love being a missionary and I love seeing the hands of Lord in our lives every single day in every moment!
I love you all, have a fabulous week!!
Love, Hermana Hauber 😘🌴☀️🇪🇸

When the sun comes out...

Hi y'all!
It has been another awesome week here in Alicante! First of all, because the rain took a break and the sunshine came out!! But really, it is so different than Badajoz, and has things that I love, but really hard things too. This week, I think I experienced some of the highest, happiest moments but also some of the hardest moments.
Let's start off with the happy ones. We saw so many miracles this week! We have set new standards of excellence as a mission and as a companionship, we have really been pushing ourselves to reach them. And as we strived to reach our goals, I could really see how people were put in our path, words into our mouths, energy into my body and faith into my heart. And really, I know the Lord is here next to me in every aspect of the work. We had one day where we taught 5 solid investigator lessons! All in one day! Now, I'm not saying that numbers are everything, but as we have really pushed ourselves, I have felt the constant blessings of the Lord. The joy of sharing this gospel with new people and testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ was just incredible. I am so grateful that this is my calling for the next 9 months.
Something else that has made a huge difference is that Hermana Swenson and I have started doing is saying short prayers of gratitude together. After citas, after finding people or even a really good street contact  - anything that really makes is grateful, no matter how big or small. And that has helped me see so much more the hand of the Lord in my life and how much he helps me in every moment.
With all of these wonderful, amazing, uplifting moments this week, I have also had a some hard times. I started thinking about everything that I need to improve on - things with obedience or writing in my journal, speaking the language, studying - basically everything and I got really discouraged. I really truly want to be the best missionary I can be but I feel like I will never get there because there is so much that I am lacking.
We did intercambios with the other Hermanas in Alicante today and one of them, Hermana Anderson is finishing up her mission soon and a HUGE example to me. We talked a lot about really using the atonement every single day and that is something that I really want to get better at. I also know that is the only way I will improve is by accepting little by little by the power of the atonement and the help of Christ every day.
This week has been kind of a struggle between these extreme ups and downs, but I think more than anything I am just grateful. I'm grateful for this gospel, and for the opportunity to share it. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the atonement, the knowledge that Jesus Christ suffered for me, to help me. And even though I'm still learning how to use and apply this gift, I'm grateful to know that I can always keep progressing and that he will forgive me and give me the strength to continue moving forward.
I love being a missionary and I love sharing the gospel with everyone. I love y'all and hope all is well.
Much love,
Hermana Hauber 😘☀️🇪🇸

We hiked up to the castle for p-day. 😎🏛

These sweet Hermanas... I love them!

I'm a professional photographer now (;

Alicante!

Hot = ice cream time

My district and mission leader and his friend!

El Amor de Dios

Hi y'all!

This week was such a good week!! The good things started off with consejo on Monday and Tuesday! We traveled to the mission home in Fuengirola and then had meetings Monday evening and Tuesday morning and wow - what a cool spiritual experience. I thought about how much the Lord trusts us - and therefore how much he loves us - to let us be here teaching His children and like taking care of them. All of the missionaries here, but also all of everyone that we interact with on a daily basis. It's incredible!

I also got to see my sweet, amazing trainer, Hermana Watson, for the first time since she left me and the last time before she goes home in a couple weeks. What an amazing example she is to me.

Then! We had Intercambios with the Hermanas from Malaga and Elche! We had some really cool contacting experiences which for me is good, because I still have a hard time with it. But I love when I do open my mouth and someone really truly listens to us even if for a moment. 

Elche Hermanas

Malaga Hermanas

We also had a couple awesome investigator lessons this week! One lady we are teaching is from Colombia and so open to the gospel. The spirit is always so strong in our lessons and she is progressing so well! We taught her the word of wisdom this week and even though she only had a few small things, she just accepted it so easily! 

We are also teaching another man who has been through a lot of hard things in his life, but really wants to change and he loves learning about the gospel. Honestly, there is so much potential here in Alicante, it is a blessing to be here working and teaching and sharing this glorious message.

Last but not least, I got to skype with my beautiful family! It was kind of a surreal feeling. But wow, I am so blessed to have them supporting me. I have such a strong testimony of the Lords plan for us as his children. He loves us and he KNOWS us and he just wants us to find happiness and has given us all that we need to accomplish it. The gospel is incredible. And it's true. And I love being a missionary.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!!

XOXO Hermana Hauber

My compi

Us with our Alicante Zone Leaders

The Redds! They were in Caceres while I was in Badajoz
and they go home this week!

Our Zone!

Today we went and learned how to cook some new food
 with a member and the other Hermanas. YUM!

Let's go to the Beach! (Bye Badajoz)

Hola familia y amigos!!
What a crazy, wonderful, incredible week it has been! Let's start at the beginning. Y'all know that we got transfer calls and I was called to go serve in Alicante.
So.... Monday and Tuesday were full of goodbyes. It was so so so hard to leave Badajoz. I experienced so many hard, hard things there but also felt some of the greatest joys there with those people. I will forever be grateful for the amazing opportunity to serve there.
And so.... After lots of photos and tears and hugs and besos I left Badajoz behind.
And... after 3 hours in a bus, 4 hours in trains stations and 6 hours in trains, I made it to Alicante!! It's been really rainy and I haven't had the opportunity to take any cool pictures, but it is beautiful here! I already love the area and the people and my companion and it's amazing. I literally feel like I am in training again because my comp shows me everywhere to go and I'm just learning everything brand new, it is humbling and an incredible experience.
The blessings of the gospel, you guys are so real. I love being a missionary and helping others learn about what has blessed my life in so many ways. We have already had so many wonderful lessons this week with investigators, I feel so blessed to be here. I know the Lord is aware of us and what we need and what we are going through. He really does have a plan for each one of us.
Sorry, this is all just kind of rambling. But I'm doing well and I love the gospel. Thanks for all the support and love! Have a wonderful week!!
XOXO Hermana Hauber

First compi picture when I arrived with Hermana Swenson.
She's from Utah and is super sweet and likes to eat healthy.
Aaaand... I already love her (:

Last district meeting in Badajoz!

Two of my favorite elders that I saw on transfer day! Elders Nye and Miller

These are the greatest people. Cecelia, Presidente Herles, and Samuel

My sweet member friend, Flor 💜

Final compi picture - the nightgown tradition lives on

On the way to Malaga!

What happens on a 4 hour train ride

One of the members wanted a picture with the new missionaries haha

Let's go to the Beach!

Hello everybody!!
Soo.... The biggest news of this last week is that we got transfer news!! After 7 months here in my wonderful Badajoz, the Lord has called me to serve in a new area. And yup, you guessed it, it's right near the beach. I have been transferred to serve in Alicante! For those of you not up on your Spanish geography(; Alicante is the complete opposite side of the country from where I am now. And yes, it is on the beach! Also, I have been called to be a SHE. Most missions they have Sister Training Leaders, but here in our mission we lovingly call them SHEs - Super Hermana Entrenadoras.
To be completely honest, I have had a lot of mixed feelings about these new changes. When we relieved the call from President Andersen Saturday morning, I just cried and cried and I was really sad. Y'all have probably noticed... I LOVE BADAJOZ. The people here are literally my family and I have learned and changed and grown and experienced so much here I don't know how I will leave it all behind.
However, as I was talking to some members here, one of them reminded me that change is necessary. That it's impossible for me to stay here for my whole mission because there are more people for me to meet and to serve and Badajoz, just like the CCM or any other phase of my life, is really just a step to help me progress and become more like my Savior Jesus Christ.
As I have pondered and prayed more with this mindset, I know that my good friend Oscar was exactly right. My time here in Badajoz has been amazing! But there are more responsibilities and more challenges and trials and people awaiting me. I truly have felt the confirmation that this change comes from the Lord and how grateful I am to be serving under a mission president who is worthy and in tune to receive this guidance from the Lord. I really am excited for this opportunity to go to Alicante and serve the people there.
Apart from transfers, we had a really good week. We started teaching someone new and helped an investigator fix a baptismal date and well, I just really love missionary work. The work is moving forward here in Badajoz and all over the world! I'm so grateful for these months that I have to be a missionary - it really is short but it is amazing. I love you all, have a wonderful week and talk at ya next week!
XOXO Hermana Hauber

Just a few thoughts

Hi everybody!
I don't have much to say this week - just that we are happy and healthy and working hard.
I do want to tell you about something I have been thinking about this last week though... This might be kind of obvious but, the gospel changes people. I think sometimes we find ourselves out on the street thinking, "I'm not going to contact that person because surely they are old and too Catholic to change" or "He drinks way too much to be interested in our message" or we need to drop Him because he is never going to change (now there is a time and a place for everything and I realize that)... But the gospel literally changes people. It changes their hearts and their spirits and I know it can change them and help every single one of them in their lives and in their families, regardless of what they might be going through.
Of course as missionaries, we need to remember that and really view others as Christ does. And have faith that there are people ready to accept this message. However, this applies one very aspect of life! We should always be striving to have the love for others that Christ has for them and that He has for us. Can you imagine the world we would live in if we each just loved a little more?? So that's my invitation to y'all today. Find someone to just love a little better this week.
Also, we have been sharing the talk by President Monson "Choices" with a lot of people this week. It's only like 4 minutes so if you don't remember it, go watch it! But how important it is that we remember our goal and that we realize that every decision we make matters because it either helps us get there or it doesn't. Folks, our goal is the celestial kingdom and when we make mistakes - because all of us will - we have the beautiful gift of the atonement to help us get back on track.
Alright, those are my ramblings this week. I love the Lord, I love this gospel and I testify that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet here to guide us on the earth today. I love this opportunity to serve others and I'm so grateful for my Savior.
Have a wonderful week y'all!!
XOXO Hermana Hauber

Happy 8 months today! 3 for 1 euro and they were delicious!

The sweet family from Mexico who has been here for 3 months but
are going home next week!

I tried ceviche and loved it!

Food truck round up!

We got caught in the rain... without umbrellas

Intercambios with the SHEs and sweet Hermana Andersen!

Pres, Cecelia y Samuel #selfiestickforthewin

I love Spain

Hi y'all!!
This has been a good week. A great week. Imma just share a couple things real quick.
First of all, we had zone meeting! And one of our zone leaders, Elder Wagner, gave an awesome taller and I've been thinking about it a lot. First of all, we read in Luke 14:28-31. Please go look it up in your bible and read it.... Okay, so it is talking about building a tower right? And how when you build a tower, first you want it. You have the desire. That's easy enough - check. Then you have to sit down (easy) and calculate the cost (a little less easy, but still manageable) - check. But then, you actually have to finish it! We have to build the tower, starting at the foundation, and actually finish it to make it useful and valuable like we intended it to be, right? Well such is the mission and really, such is life. As missionaries, we have three hours on one day a week to do weekly planning. This is
where we plan how we are going to help the people we are teaching, what we are going to teach, how we are going to help the branch and where or how we can find new people. THREE HOURS to plan. And then, we have a full week to act, but sometimes we just let the planning go out the window. Maybe we get distracted by other things, we forget the goals we have set or we don't accomplish all that we planned. Now people have their free agency, but sometimes we just aren't finishing our tower.
I loved this! And it applies to all y'all too, whether or not you are in the mission! It doesn't make sense to spend so much time planning or making goals or preparing ourselves for something if we never even finish it or accomplish that which we have set out to do. So.... My invitation for y'all is to finish building your towers. Don't be the man that gets mocked because you got distracted or lazy or lost interest. Ask the Lord for help and then get to work. (:
Alright, the next cool thing from this week is that we had an awesome first lesson with a new investigator. My sweet trainee and I of course practiced during comp study and then proceeded to teach this woman. The lesson went really well, she had a lot of interest, and then we were just finishing up when my companion asked her a simple question. I kind of wondered why she did it, because it was kind of random, but Silvia just opened up. She told us more about her situation, her struggles and we really came to know her better and it was amazing! It was so cool to see my companion follow the promptings she received from the Spirit and in acting on it, see the blessings from the Lord. It was so cool. This truly is the Lord's work and I know he is with us in every single aspect and in every moment.
Okay, one last thing. So lots of you already know or probably have at least noticed that I have been in the same area for my whole mission! Just like 6ish months since I left the CCM, but that's a fair amount. And sometimes I just worry. I get down on myself and think, man, I have been here for 6 months and what I have I done to help these people? And well, we had interviews with President Andersen this week and as I expressed to him my feelings and what was worrying me, he told me this "Hermana, let the Lord measure your work." We had a good talk about how this is the Lord's work. I'm not here for me, I'm here for him and truly He is the only that can know my true effort and value here as a missionary. It doesn't depend on baptisms or how well I speak the language or numbers or what the members say or anything. The Lord knows and that's all that matters. I am so grateful for President and Hermana Andersen - they really are the greatest.
Also, just a little thing for you all to know is that I love Spain. I love the people and the members and the food and it's beautiful and also I LOVE SPANISH. This is a wonderful place and if I didn't also love America, I might just live here some day.
Bueno, pues now that I have gone on and on... I just want to leave you all with my testimony that this gospel is true! This work is about bringing others to Christ and helping others receive the gift of eternal life. Our Savior is Jesus Christ and He lives and loves everyone of us. I know it, I know it, I know it with every fiber of my being.
I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!
Love from your favorite almost-spaniard,
Hermana Hauber 😘

My selfie game isn't all that great, but we had a barbecue!

Spanish salad and Brazilian cheese bread #imlearning